Long Island

American  

noun

1. an island in SE New York: the boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens of New York City are located at its W end. 118 miles (190 km) long; 12–20 miles (19–32 km) wide; 1,682 sq. mi. (4,356 sq. km).

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Long Island British  

noun

1. an island in SE New York State, separated from the S shore of Connecticut by Long Island Sound (an arm of the Atlantic): contains the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens in the west, many resorts (notably Coney Island), and two large airports (La Guardia and John F. Kennedy). Area: 4462 sq km (1723 sq miles)

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Long Island Cultural  

1. Island in New York state. Its western end is taken up by Brooklyn and Queens, two of the five boroughs that make up New York City.

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Example Sentences

Summer’s hot upon us, the World Cup’s hitting full speed—Canada, yowza, score a few more goals, eh—the khaki mafia has invaded the posh end of Long Island for golf’s U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

When play did get under way, two hours later than scheduled, only six of the early starters broke par as strong winds buffeted an already tricky course on Long Island, New York.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2026

In our Valley Stream, Long Island home, my youthful 80-year-old, African American mother and I — her Gen X son and facial clone — comment on each episode like armchair judges.

From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026

Before that, as a kid, she was a softball infielder in Long Island and then at the University of Chicago.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

It dumped Long Island, Cape Cod, Nantucket, and most of Martha’s Vineyard where previously there had just been sea, and it gouged out the Great Lakes, Hudson Bay, and little Sunfish Pond, among much else.

From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson